Gray Fullbuster was known for being quite competent. If there was something he saw, he would go after it. And his work at the head of the editorial team was seen in high regard by not only his colleagues and the people who dealt with the Ice-Make House but also by those outside.
The publishing company had started as a familiar endeavour – well, not just of one family but of some friends that had become family – that had grown and grown. They were still on the smaller side, as a company, but their name already made heads turn, the quality of the works therein published was starting to speak for itself.
And Gray had quite a bit of work to do.
He worked with a tireless group of editors to make sure that the people that put their trust in them wouldn't be disappointed. It was a lot of responsibility.
"I will see you, then." Gray was saying on the phone before placing it back in its holder.
"Here's the new data Lyon-san sent," Juvia, Gray's assistant, said as she placed a pile of papers on the corner of the desk.
"Thanks, Juvia." Gray murmured as he scribbled a few notes down. "Oh, we're supposed to go meet our new writer, Mister Jellal Fernandes, at his town. Here's the info, could you take care of that?"
"Sure, Gray-sama." Juvia took the piece of paper and left to her desk.
Gray leaned back in his chair and let out a huff. This new writer was a slightly complicated case. But was so worth it. A beep coming from his phone brought him back from his musings.
still up for lunch?
Gray chuckled.
of course
After sending the text Gray looked at the time. He still had a meeting in the afternoon with Lyon about the data Juvia had just brought so he better start looking at the papers. Which he did.
Gray immersed himself so much in the work that Juvia knocking on the doorjamb to remind him of the time was a momentary shock.
"Wha-what?" Gray muttered, blinking a couple of times to clear his sight before seeing the time. "Shit! I'm late!" he closed the binder he was reading and grabbed his phone, putting it in his pocket before starting to head out only to pause at a voice.
"Coat!" Juvia said, knowing Gray way too well by now.
Gray grabbed his coat from the rack and put it on, thanking Juvia on his way back and arching an eyebrow at the strange look she had on her face. But he shrugged it on and kept going. He was late.
He and Wendy got inside the restaurant and Gray saw Sting and Rogue right away.
They were at their usual table, and seemingly had already ordered some amuse-bouches and drink. They seemed to be in a deep conversation but stopped when they noticed them. They stood and smiled at Wendy.
"Sorry I'm late. I met Wendy on the way and invited her. It's no problem, right?" Gray arched an eyebrow. At least they would know what not to talk about. And it was quite a relief for Gray, actually.
"Of course not." Sting scoffed before turning to Wendy. "How are you?"
"Hi… I apologize, I didn't mean to impose…"
"Nonsense. You're welcome to eat with us." Sting affirmed, glancing at his partner who nodded. Rogue seemed distracted and when his phone started ringing he excused himself and went to a more secluded place to answer it.
"Is everything alright?" Gray asked, already sitting and perusing his menu.
"Just a big-ass headache of a case. I hope he doesn't have to leave." Sting was flipping over his menu again.
"I hope everything goes well." Wendy chimed in.
"It's Rogue," Sting said emphatically, "of course that it will go well."
"That's for sure." Gray said before changing the whole air of the conversation. "So, what have you decided to eat?"
They were interrupted by Rogue who returned to the table. The even more sombre look told them what was about to happen.
"You have to go?" Sting said right away.
"Yeah, Rufus just called. I have to be there before..." he paused, heaving a short huff before nodding apologetically at everyone at the table. "I'll talk to you later. Wendy, it was a pleasure to see you again." And with that, he was leaving.
"That's a bummer." Gray mumbled. Sting seemed to overhear him and tilted his head to the side in what could be seen as agreement.
Their waiter approached the table and the trio ended up ordering the food and started chatting about inconsequential things. Even if slightly more subdued.
As the meal neared its end and coffee and dessert had been ordered, Sting leaned forward conspiratorially and, as Wendy had excused herself for a moment, finally asked the question he'd been burning to ask.
"So? Did you do it?"
"No, I didn't." Gray answered, slightly grouchy, with an eye roll.
"Why not? We told you already. You have to go there and-" Sting started saying.
"And nothing. I'm busy, Sting." Gray answered curtly.
"You're such a workaholic." Was shot back at him.
"As if either of you could say anything…" Gray teased.
"At least I have Rogue by my side."
"And I have my family. And my work."
"You're impossible. Stop trying to turn this around." Sting was getting annoyed.
Wendy chose that moment to return.
"Sorry guys, but I have a class soon. It's time for me to go. How much-?" She started to reach for her purse but Gray stopped her.
"Hey, I invited you. I pay."
"Thanks." She said as she finished getting ready. "I'll call you later." With a quick kiss on the cheek to both Gray and Sting, she left too.
There was a small stalemate in the conversation for a beat until Gray waved at the waiter for the check.
"Well, it's time for me to go too. I have a meeting with Lyon and need to sort some things before I have to leave. New writer, y'know." He ended with a shrug.
"Oh, so you're going to meet this new writer? You usually don't do that…"
"No, but you know how it is. To some authors we like to give the VIP treatment," Gray started saying seriously before chuckling. "Not really, though this Jellal does have an amazing potential. But you know that there are some people the boss has a feeling about."
"I bet Ur would love to hear you call her that…"
"Oh shush!" Gray shot back, blushing a little.
"You should do it at the company's Christmas party." Sting teased.
"If everything goes well, I won't be attending the Christmas party." Gray said coldly.
"Sorry, for a moment I forgot that… Christmas…" Sting said with a grimace.
"Don't worry. Some people still do." Gray said in a still chilly tone. The waiter came with the check and Gray paid. It was only after he had left that Gray turned to Sting with a slight smirk. "Next lunch's on you."
"Fine." That word was the embodiment of the act of eye rolling.
They chuckled.
After leaving a hefty tip, as was their usual, the duo left the restaurant.
Walking on the chilly air felt good for Gray.
There was a silence between them but it was comfortable, companionable.
"I'll talk to you later," Sting said once again as they reached the place where their paths diverged.
"No stress. We have to meet one day, when Rogue isn't busy too." Gray extended his hand. Sting clasped it with a sharp smile before they broke it off and walked in different directions.
The meeting had been long, laborious and a bore. Gray was happy to be back in his office, packing to finally go home.
He could hear Juvia typing, from beyond the door. It was usual and there was a quasi-comfortable quality to it. Almost like home.
His phone pinged and so he quickly checked to see that Lyon had already sent him the info he'd promised and there was also an email about the upcoming visit. Quickly scanning the information Gray licked his lips before placing down his phone. He turned off his computer and gathered all the things.
"Juvia, don't forget to pack warmly. Looks like it's going to be very cold in that area." Gray placed the phone in his pocket. "As you know, we'll leave after lunch. So we need to leave everything properly. I count on you for that. Have a good night."
And with that he left for the day.
So, the trip wasn't exactly going too smoothly.
Despite them having GPS and a map, they had gotten themselves lost. And then the GPS went bust and they got lost and Juvia let the map get wet until the form of mush before, finally, the car they were using started to malfunction. They didn't have much of a chance beyond turning to the next town they saw, Magnolia it was called, and hope there would be a mechanic in there to fix the problem and help them out.
Then, as they got further inside the town, Gray started to feel the press of all the Christmas decorations that seemed to permeate everything – but everything, really, even the air! – in the town. And then the car died. Fortunately it was in the middle of stopping by the sidewalk. Hopefully parking was allowed in there, Gray thought.
"Come on. Let's go find a way out of this damn town in the middle of nowhere." Gray grumbled, his bad mood settling on his shoulders like a cloak.
"Are you alright, Gray-sama?" Juvia asked in a careful tone.
"I'll be fine. If only this Christmas-loving town was less… Christmas-y…"
"It will be alright, Gray-sama. Juvia knows it." She said encouragingly while placing a hand on his arm.
Gray let his head hit the headrest and huffed. His eyes closing while memories flashed in his mind's eye.
Gray being with Lyon waiting to open the presents that were under the tree. This Christmas they were celebrating at Ur's. His parents were coming to Ur's.
The music and scent of food that permeated the air. The fireplace with the overstuffed socks, all the colours of the tree, his full belly after a great dinner. The movies they'd seen on the telly. The songs he and Lyon sang and the silly detective game they did while they waited. Ultear had been annoyed at their antics so she had left but they still found themselves in her room – she was the culprit to making time seem longer. The snow falling into a pure white blanket on the other side of the window, while the moon seemed to peek timidly to bathe it in its silvery light. There was a lot of expectation, of joy.
Then, the doorbell rang. Gray stood up in a jump and hurried to the door. Ur was opening it but, Gray stopped, those weren't his parents.
Two tall men, policemen he'd learned later, were shrouded in graveness.
Before he was dragged back by Ultear there were a few words that came across the fog that seemed to have taken to Gray's mind.
Sorry.
Car accident.
Deceased.
That was when his life shattered into a million pieces.
His parents had died on Christmas Eve, while they were going to Ur's house. And since then, to Gray, Christmas had lost all of its joy.
It was just another day, like so many others, where people just pretended to be happy and wish good things upon others when in reality everyone was just a selfish asshole.
Christmas Magic
A banner in the window of a store announced. Gray scoffed at it as he got rid of the seatbelt and got out of the car. Juvia was by his side.
He felt tired. And just a drive shouldn't have done that to him. But, probably the whole Christmas ambiance of the town had taken away his remaining energy.
"Let's go get some help at that coffeehouse," Gray said. "I could have a coffee myself."
"Yes, Gray-sama."
The pair walked into the Fairy Tail coffeehouse.
As they entered, snow was falling behind them.